Victoria Square

If you’re going to stay over in Stirling, the historic heart of Scotland, then it should be in style. Luckily, there are luxury rooms and fine food at the Victoria Square restaurant with rooms, right in the shadow of the castle. The big, old stone house has ten guest rooms, and plenty of choice, from a handsome little single to a couple of deluxe four-poster rooms with their handcrafted beds and views down over the tree-lined square below. The feel is country-house weekend, with some lovely Scottish fabrics and wallpaper, and Arran Aromatic toiletries, and a good breakfast to start the day.

Book for the glassed-in Orangery restaurant and it’s modern Scottish dining from a table d’hote (two- or three-course) menu, or the full, fine-dining experience that is the chef’s tasting menu.

All in all, it’s a great base for seeing the town, the Bannockburn visitor centre, and nearby Doune Castle (Outlander fans won’t want to miss that!). There’s limited, free parking at the property, but there is plenty of on-street parking nearby, if you’re coming and going each day.